(Photo : Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Syracuse University)
On Sunday, the jazz saxophonist David Sanborn passed away at 78 in Tarrytown, New York City.
In an official statement, it was confirmed that the cause was complications of prostate cancer, which he had been fighting since 2018.
The announcement said that Sanborn was a seminal figure in contemporary pop and jazz music, and it has been said that he put the saxophone back into Rock' n Roll.
According to his Instagram page, the renowned musician has booked shows this month through 2025. His acclaimed quintet is set for May 24 and 25 at Jimmy's Jazz & Blues Club in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
Sanborn was born in Tampa, Florida, in 1945 but was raised in a Missouri suburb outside of St. Louis. Following a childhood case of polio, his doctor suggested that he take up saxophone playing to help strengthen his chest muscles.
By the time he was 14, he was performing alongside blues luminaries. He attended Northwestern University and the University of Iowa to study music before relocating to California to play with the Butterfield Blues Band at Woodstock.
He was a prolific session musician before and after his debut solo album, 'Taking Off,' in 1975. He collaborated with many artists, including Linda Ronstadt, Roger Waters, Bruce Springsteen, Eric Clapton, James Brown, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and many more.
The legendary musician performed with the 'Saturday Night Live' band in the 1980s and often appeared on 'Late Night With David Letterman' with Paul Shaffer's group.
Alongside Jools Holland, he co-hosted the program 'Night Music' from 1988 to 1989. He also wrote the music for several movies, such as 'Lethal Weapon' 2, 3, and 4 and 'Psycho III.'
Furthermore, Sanborn received six Grammy Awards throughout his career, including three of his albums, including 'Voyeur' (1981), 'Double Vision' (1986), and 'Close Up' (1988).
